How beautiful to find a heart that loves you without asking for anything except for you to be okay.

Darrel Curtis

Loving her... was never easy. It was always a challenge - then again love always is. I can remember staying up until 2...3 in the morning worrying over a fight we had three weeks earlier and how it was affecting her; wondering if this was it, if she was going to call it quits over how much of an idiot I was. I can vividly remember my mother coming into my room to comfort me after I'd woken her up by throwing something against the wall at 4:30 in the morning and every time she would always say the same thing it would always be "The truth is that the more intimately you know someone, the more clearly you'll see their flaws. That's just the way it is. That is why marriages fail, why children are abandoned, why friendships don't last. You might think you love someone until you see the way they act when they're out of money or under pressure or hungry, for goodness' sake. Love is something different; love is choosing to serve someone and be with someone in spite of their filthy heart. Love is patient and kind, love is deliberate. Love is hard. Love is pain and sacrifice, it's seeing the darkness in another person and defying the impulse to jump ship." She would rub my back and hand me a cup of coffee and stay up with me till the sun rose just to make sure I was alright and I wouldn't hurt myself anymore; that woman had the kindest heart I knew in this cruel town of hate and rank and throwing around insults every chance you got. And just before she went back to her bed she would turn to me and, in the silence, she would say "That girl wouldn't be coming back to you time after time if she didn't love you."

That's what brought me to this situation here today. I realized I loved Olivia Sheldon and I hoped to God I didn't hurt her like I did Paisley; there was nothing I could do anymore to stop these feelings from blossoming, I just hoped I could keep them in check.

I was staring at her from across the room as she moved quickly around the counter taking orders and dropping plates of food off at the correct tables; she had yet to notice me staring at her, as it was a busy day and she had no time for distractions.

"Dude, that's creepy. Are you taking stalking to a whole new level or somethin'?"Dally leaned over from his seat beside me to whisper into my ear.

"Shut up Dally." I ground on through my teeth, glaring at him.

"Awww, somebody has a little crush." Dally fake pouted his lips and widened his eyes, turning to me.

If only he knew, I almost scoffed.

"Oh look, here she comes." He spoke into my ear while pointing.

"Put your finger down." I slapped his hand and turned to Olivia with a smile, as she was standing in front of us.

"What can I get for you?" She asked with a sweet smile, and if possible it widened when she saw us.

"Two family packs I presume?" Olivia cocked her head. I only nodded in fear of making a fool of myself and swallowed around the lump in my throat at how effortlessly beautiful she looked.

"I'll be back soon, then." She swayed away, but not overly so.

"Try to be quiet, won't you, Dare." Dally jabbed at me after she was out of earshot.

"Shut up."

"And why don't you smile some more, huh? I mean why look so depressed?" It was then that I recognized the cheek-breaking smile stretching across my face; it was also then that I knew if Dally said one more word, he wouldn't live to see tomorrow.

"Do you want to die?" I snapped, glaring hotly at Dally.

"Oh believe me, I'm quaking in my boots." He threw his hands up in mock surrender as he spoke sarcastically.

"Here you are boys." Olivia sat the bagged food on the table in front of us before smiling genuinely and walking away quickly.

"She couldn't have blushed more if she tried." Dallas cracked from my side.

"That's it." I threw my hands up quickly and grabbed around his neck in a playful manner.

"Dare, leave it alone." He glared down at my hands while reaching up and jerking them off his neck.

"Let's go." I nodded to the door and grabbed the bags, walking away, but not without a quick glance towards Olivia, who I found was already staring at me. We shared brief smiles before turning opposite ways.

We both hopped in the truck and slammed the creaky doors shut, even though we both knew it couldn't be good for old blue; the drive back to the house seemed longer, as I knew the revelation had to be disclosed to the boys soon, and if I didn't do it tonight, I never would.

The ride was filled with static from the radio and the loud put put of the old motor. I drowned it out in my mind, with al these thoughts of Olivia coming and going. And after a while of driving you got used to the sound and could block it out.

I got out of the truck slower than usual and walked up the porch and suddenly my mouth was dry; maybe I shouldn't do this.

Olivia Sheldon

The diner was extremely busy tonight, as it was a Saturday night; the diner was bustling with senseless chattering and people all over the place. I was busting my ass, never still for one moment. I swear by now I had walked ten miles just in this small square of space.

I had seen a familiar face - or rather two - staring at me from across the counter multiple times tonight, but ignored as obviously they hadn't noticed me staring back just the same.

After finishing my rounds on half of my tables, I made my way over to them quickly, pen and notebook in hand.

"What can I get for you?" I acted as if they were any other pair of customers, before looking up and stretching my smile, acting as if I had never noticed them being here before.

It looked as if Darry blushed a bit, but I brushed it off as the bad and flickering lighting up above. Darry could never blush at something so simple that I had asked him, especially me.

"Two family packs I presume?" I asked, to which he just nodded and looked away uncomfortably. I knew it. He would never feel about me the way I do about him. I smiled genuinely behind my hurt and turned, walking away quickly.

For the first time I realized how I felt truly about him and it was huge; bigger than a crush or a simple flutter of the heart. Kieran had to know about this, and now. Good thing she was at work with me today.

I placed the order on the window that separates the kitchen from the rest of the place and put a rush on it before walking off.

I rounded on two more tables before walking to the front counter and picking up the bags that I knew were for Darry and Dallas.

"Here you are boys." I set the white bags on the table in front of them before turning and walking away, not realizing the smile that graced my face.

I quickly got back to work after sharing a brief smile to Darry as he walked out the door; after a few hours, the diner started clearing out, and the chefs were cleaning the kitchen.

"Close up tonight, will you." My boss stated as he handed over the keys to the diner and placed the safely in my palm.

"Of course." I smiled a quick close-lipped smile to him before turning back to the task at hand. I started straightening up around the front counter while Kieran went around the outside of the shop and did the bathrooms.

After a while, the chefs left and it was only us there, alone. I suddenly got nervous as I realized what I would be doing; the thing I would be revealing. Oh gosh. Maybe I can't do this.

Darrel Curtis.

I looked around me as everyone else sat, still eating. I chewed fast, in fear of the butterflies in my stomach taking over and me not eating. Everyone would definitely be suspicious then.

I waited patiently as everyone slowly started finishing their food and placing their plates on the coffee table, making it a cluttered mess. I stacked the plates and took them to the kitchen; anything to take my mind off the nervousness. I stacked them in the sink along with a few glasses and the bottles of beer in the trash.

I grabbed a glass from the cabinet overhead and filled it with water from the tap and downed it quickly. I did that twice more before looking at myself in the reflection of the kitchen window and giving myself a mental pep-talk, bracing myself for what was to come.

"You okay?" Dallas asked from behind me and I jumped a bit

"Jesus Dal, don't do that." I exhaled turning to glare at him

"What's got you so wound-up?" He cocked a brow looking me up and down.

"Nothing, just go back to the living room, I'll be there in a minute." I shook my hand at him and turned back to fill my glass once more.

I slowly trudged into the living room and took my place in my chair, everyone staring at me expectantly.

I grabbed the remote and turned Mickey Mouse off, needing the silence and everyone's full attention; they all turned and stared at me, their gazes feeling like the fire of one thousand suns on my skin.

"There's something I've got to tell you all..." I trailed off, breaking the uncomfortable, thick silence filling the air.

"You think?" Two-bit asked sarcastically to which I flipped him off.

I grabbed my glass off the table and downed what was left before looking into all of their expectant eyes.

"I'm in love with Olivia Sheldon."

Silence

Stunned, mouths gaping, eyes wide, strained, unbearable silence.

Olivia Sheldon

Kieran was mopping the floors, while I wiped down the tables in silence. Usually there would be a radio playing in the background, but not tonight. Nope. I needed this silence before I revealed something this huge, this groundbreaking.

As we finished, Kieran started to leave.

"Wait a minute. There's something I need to tell you." I called and she turned to look at me skeptically, but nevertheless turned back and sat at the chair I offered her.

"I'm going to start a pot of coffee." I dismissed walking away to the kettle quickly; anything to ease my mind. I watched as the water boiled in the pot before quickly switching the kettle off and pouring two cups of the black, rich, liquid.

I dropped two sugars in Kieran's and set our mugs in front us, we being across from each other at the table.

I wrapped my hands around the hot mug and stared down at myself in the reflection of the liquid. I breathed in the sweet smell and quickly looked up to catch eyes with Kieran; her having been giving me that same confused look ever since I sat down.

My hands shook slightly as I took a sip of the warm liquid and set it back between my hands, keeping them warm.

I caught her eyes as I pronounced the words that could change everything loud and clear.

"I think I am in love with Darrel Curtis, Kieran  ......... and I do not know what to do."

I think I want you more than want
And no I need you more than need
I want to hold you more than hold
When you stood in front of me
I think you know me more than know
And you see me more than see
I could die now more than die
Every time you look at me

Well I've seen you in jeans with no make-up on
And I've stood there in awe as your date for the prom
I'm blessed as a man to have seen you in white
But I've never seen anything quite like you tonight
No, I've never seen anything quite like you

When it's right it's more than right
Those you feel it more than feel
I could take this moment now
Ride into the great with me

Oh well I've seen you in jeans with no make-up on
And I've stood there in awe as your date for the prom
I'm blessed as a man to have seen you in white
But I've never seen anything quite like you tonight
No, no I've never seen anything quite like you tonight
Oh no, I've never seen anything quite like you tonight

And your eyes are in your eyes
And my heart's in our hearts
Sometimes words just ain't enough
For this love that's more than love

Well I've seen you in jeans with no make-up on
And I've stood there in awe as your date for the prom
I'm blessed as a man to have seen you in white
But I've never seen anything quite like you tonight
No, no I've never seen anything quite like you tonight
Oh no, I've never seen anything quite like you tonight
- never seen anything "quite like you", The Script.